Animal Care & Control

Animal Care & Control helps ensure everyone's safe, healthy and peaceful enjoyment of Edmonton neighbourhoods.

Animal Care & Control Centre

Edmonton’s stray and lost pets are housed at the Animal Care & Control Centre. The facility takes care of animals until their rightful owners can be found or until they are transferred to an adoption agency.

Staff at the facility is trained to look after the health and well-being of all pets in our care by providing:

First aid and veterinary care for animals that come in with an injury
Quality food
Kennels that are cleaned and disinfected throughout each day
Vaccinations to protect from infection
Specialty care for unique pets by consulting with the Edmonton Reptile and Amphibian Society, Alberta Ferret Society, Wildlife Rehabilitation Society and others

Animal Control Peace Officers

Animal Control Peace Officers help owners ensure their pets are a positive addition to the community. This is done through education programs, mediating neighbour disputes, providing advice and enforcement.

They enforce the Animal Licensing and Control Bylaw makes owners responsible for their pet’s actions, helps return lost pets to their owners and ensures pets are a positive addition to the community. Officers also enforce the Animal Protection Act to ensure pets are well cared for by their owners.

Officers patrol neighbourhoods for stray animals, return lost pets to their owners and respond to animals in distress or animals that have been abandoned.

They also assist the Edmonton Police Service with aggressive or injured animals, Provincial Brand Inspectors with loose livestock and Provincial Conservation Officers with wildlife inside city limits.

Animal Control Peace Officers are sworn peace officers, giving them the ability to write tickets and lay charges that require a pet owner to appear in court.

Frequently Asked Questions

What complaints will Animal Care & Control Officers investigate?

Animal Control Peace Officers typically investigate complaints of:

Excessive barking
Dog bites or attacks
Pets without a licence
Dogs or cats at large
Failure to clean up pet defecation (poop)
Problem wildlife
Dead animals on public property
Abuse or neglect

The City of Edmonton Animal Control Peace Officers also now enforce the Provincial Animal Protection Act (APA) which enables the officers to respond to animals in distress or animals that have been abandoned. The Act was previously enforced by the Edmonton Humane Society (EHS).

Animal Control Peace Officers investigate complaints by interviewing witnesses, neighbours, complainants and pet owners. When possible, the officer also collects other evidence.

Any investigation can result in a simple warning, a fine or a mandatory court appearance.

What is a mandatory court appearance?

Animal Control Peace Officers can issue a ticket that requires a pet owner to appear in Provincial Court.

This option is used in cases where owners have received multiple fines for repeat offences, such as a barking dog or dog at-large, and for extreme instances such as serious dog attacks. The Provincial Court can issue higher fines and can even order the City to seize an animal from an owner.

Animal Control Peace Officers can also now enforce the Animal Protection Act (APA) which deals with concerns of animal abuse, neglect and abandonment. In severe cases, animals may be seized and/or criminal charges laid.

When can an Animal Control Peace Officer seize an animal?

Animal Control Peace Officers can seize animals that are found at-large (for example, stray) within Edmonton city limits or animals that the Provincial Court has ordered them to seize. They can also seize animals under the Provincial Animal Protection Act (APA).

Animals seized for being at-large can be picked up by their owner from the Animal Care & Control Centre at 13550 163 Street.

Do Animal Control Peace Officers always seize at-large animals?

No. Under the City’s Free Ride Home program, at-large pets with a valid pet licence can be taken directly home by an officer free of charge once every 12 months.

Who should I call if an animal is being abused or neglected?

Please refer to the Animal Protection Act page to see who to call if you see any animal in distress, abused or neglected.

What are the possible fines for violating Edmonton’s Animal Control Bylaw or the Animal Protection Act?

Common fines under the Animal Licensing and Control Bylaw are:

Excessive barking - $100
Owning an unlicensed pet - $250
Animal at-large - $100
Failure to remove defecation - $100
Failure to control or leash a dog - $100
Dog attack causing no injury - $100
Dog attack causing injury - $500 to $2,500

The penalties for non-compliance with the Animal Protection Act may include monetary penalties up to a maximum of $20,000, prohibition of animal ownership for a period determined by the courts and any other terms and conditions a court deems appropriate

What should I do if I have an unwanted cat on my property?

Animal Care & Control Officers do not capture at-large cats because they are generally not a danger to humans. However, stray and at-large cats can be brought to the Animal Care & Control Centre if you trap them humanely.

For information, visit Unwanted Cats on Private Property.

How long are animals kept at the Animal Care & Control Centre?

Animals with no identification are kept up to three business days and animals with identification are kept up to 10 business days.

After that, adoptable animals are transferred to the
Edmonton Humane Society and other rescue groups.

What does the City do to find a lost pet's owner?

Every animal that enters our Animal Care & Control Centre is searched for tags, a tattoo or a microchip.

When an animal has a valid pet licence and is wearing tags, we can immediately contact the owner. A tattoo or microchip with up-to-date information on file also helps us to contact the owner.

Every animal that enters our facility also has its picture posted on our Found Pets search tool.

Animal Care & Control Centre

13550 - 163 Street
Edmonton, AB

Facility information and hours

Telephone	In Edmonton: 311 Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311
Online	Contact 311

Animal Care & Control Centre

Animal Control Peace Officers

Frequently Asked Questions

Hours & Location

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13550 163 Street

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Animal Care & Control Centre

Animal Care & Control

Animal Care & Control Centre

Animal Control Peace Officers

Frequently Asked Questions

Hours & Location

13550 163 Street

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Animal Care & Control Centre